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Best RPGs for an RPG noob?

D

Dilbert

Member
Well, here's the deal: I've never gotten into RPGs. I got a few hours into The Bard's Tale on PC in my youth, but I never finished it or bought any other games like it. Now that I'm a bit older and my fast-twitch muscle fibers are all bailing out on me, I'm tempted to try again to get into this genre.

Things I liked about RPGs:

-> The whole sword and sorcery stuff is cool. Especially hot half-elf females. (Just kidding).
-> Slower pace of gameplay. You can multitask between playing and other stuff.
-> Progress. Gaining new items and abilities was rewarding...especially when the difficulty ramp matched your improvement.

Things I didn't like about RPGs:

-> Mapping. Sitting in front of the computer with graph paper sucked.
-> Leveling up. I expect a certain amount of this, but having to kill 1000 orcs to survive the next level of the dungeon is very boring.
-> Length. I have a limited amount of time available to play games, so if an RPG requires 80 hours to complete, it's NEVER going to get done.

Given all of this, what would you recommend as a good RPG reentry game? I have a gaming PC, PS2, PSP, and GBA SP+, but would prefer something on the portable systems if at all possible since a good chunk of my available playtime would be on travel or otherwise away from home.
 
Final Fantasy IV Advance

Or you could always scale the SRPG ladder, that sounds somewhat up your alley
 
Chrono Trigger followed by FFVI or FFIV. None of these games are extremely long (Chrono Trigger lasts between 15 and 25 hours while the FF's take between 30 and 45 -- depends on your skill and dedication to get EVERYTHING), none of these games are extremely hard (although the FF's are harder than Chrono Trigger), none of these games requires mapping dungeons by hand, and none of these games requires hardcore levelling up (although you can if you want to blow through them cheaply, but that's not fun).

And for the record, I'm not saying these games are the very best in their genre, just that they make great games for RPG beginners since they're relatively easy, tell decent stories by RPG standards, have fun characters, and have battle systems that aren't total bores.

EDIT: awesome music in these games too (FFVI especially so). Now you'll know what the fuss is about when someone goes orgasmic over Nubuo Uematsu.
 
Tales of Symphonia
has a half-elf female as a party member
It's also the best RPG to come here in years, and is the best game for Gamecube. I can't suggest it highly enough. And if you don't want to level up for a hard boss, just turn the difficulty to easy to beat it, and turn it back to normal once you beat the boss.
 
That's fine and all, but where is his Gamecube?

Or his SNES? Does Chrono Trigger and FFVI run good on PSP emulation?

shh i know about ZSNES
 
If you like powerlevelling, I suggest DQ8. It's pretty simple to pick up and play, and is fairly long.
If you want a button smashing dungeon crawl, try Shining Force Neo or any Tales game.

Plus there's always Final Fantasy IV if you want no frills, general purpose role playing
 
demi said:
That's fine and all, but where is his Gamecube?

Or his SNES? Does Chrono Trigger and FFVI run good on PSP emulation?

shh i know about ZSNES
Click to expand...
yes ;) runs good on 'gaming PCs' too
If you don't want to make your own ROMs *cough* as a backup copy of Chrono Trigger and FFVI, which you haven't played for years, check out FFVII or FFIX since they can be played on your PS2. FFIX's very n00b-friendly.
 
Both IX and X are nice entries if you don't care for 2D, I would choose IX over X! VIVI!

*tinkle tinkle*
 
If you have a Dreamcast or Gamecube go for Skies of Arcadia. It'll make you feel like a kid again. Huge open world, a good story for a change, likeable characters, leveling up almost unnecessary, great music. Only thing is that it has a massive random encounter ratio. It didn't really bother me while I was playing, but it does get noticeable later in the game. I'm surprised nobody else reccommended it.
 
You can also get Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI for the Playstation (therefore ps2). Final Fantasy VI comes in Final Fantasy Anthology (along with FFV) and Chrono Trigger can be found in Final Fantasy Chronicles (along swith FFIV). No emulation required. Not sure how available they are. But I see Chronicles on Ebay for 12 dollars, so I doubt it's too rare.
 
LightningZero5 said:
If you have a Dreamcast or Gamecube go for Skies of Arcadia. It'll make you feel like a kid again. Huge open world, a good story for a change, likeable characters, leveling up almost unnecessary, great music. Only thing is that it has a massive random encounter ratio. It didn't really bother me while I was playing, but it does get noticeable later in the game. I'm surprised nobody else reccommended it.
Click to expand...
According to the reviews I've read (not personal experience -- I played the DC version), the GC Skies has less random encounters, so perhaps that's the version to get. Can anyone confirm this?
You can also get Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI for the Playstation (therefore ps2). Final Fantasy VI comes in Final Fantasy Anthology (along with FFV) and Chrono Trigger can be found in Final Fantasy Chronicles (along swith FFIV). No emulation required. Not sure how available they are. But I see Chronicles on Ebay for 12 dollars, so I doubt it's too rare.
Click to expand...
It might be best to buy those games, then emulate them on a PSP/computer, because seriously, the load times in between menus, etc. was horrible. Thanks for reminding me of those tho.
 
Probably something like the Super Mario RPGs for GameBoy.....where the story is kinda goofy and generic, but at least the gameplay isn't dull as dirt. I think the tiresome battle systems of stuff like Final Fantasy and Skies of Arcadia is probably what makes people get bored with the genre. I can't think of a worse place to start than Dragon Quest, honestly. =P
 
pgtl_10 said:
Super Mario RPG for SNES.
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This was in my head, too. It's a bit old-school by now, but it and co-op Secret of Mana made for good I-won't-immediately-lose introduction for my brother.

However, considering -jinx- isn't 10, specifically mentioned a fantasy setting being fine, and was going for a slower pace of gameplay, SMRPG may not be what he's looking for.


On the whole I'd say something like the GBA Final Fantasy games would be good for -jinx-. Portable time really is great for RPGs with a proper save system. By that I mean a game that thinks it's a console game and only allows you to save at certain locations makes for an inconvenient portable experience when filling in time gaps.
 
If you want to go more the strategy RPG route, try Fire Emblem. The GBA one that's just called "Fire Emblem" (no subtitle) in the US has an introductory set of chapters that ease you into the gameplay nicely.

FF4, FF6, and Chrono Trigger would also be good choices, but Fire Emblem has the advantage of being 100% turn based, making it easier to play while multitasking. The battles in those SNES RPGs have a small realtime element to them.
 
If the person has a gameboy, I'd vote for Golden Sun 1 and 2. It's a fairly simple RPG with an interesting plot. There were a lot of elements in the story I haven't seen in many RPGs. Plus you don't have to worry about save points, which is the best feature of handheld RPGs, well most of them anyway.
 
Dragon Quest 8, FF4 Advance, Tales of Symphonia, and Shadow Hearts 2 are all good games... well SH2 doesn't have a medieval setting, instead having a WWI inspired setting, but its still an excellent game.
 
Even going by what your saying, Super Mario RPG would be the best. Hell even the Paper Mario or Mario + Luigi series would be great. Very simple Battle system and Level Up system. SMRPG is still one of my favorites
 
I agree Tales of Symphonia is a good beginners RPG. I'm not beginner, but I loved it.

Radiata Stories (PS2) is also a great RPG for beginners. (Can prolly get for like, $20-$30)
It has really great aesthetics, actually FUNNY characters, and a SIMPLE, easy battle system. You can roam around the field, but it isn't complex, it's straight forward, battles are fast.
The game isn't very long either compared to the hefft 50+ hour games, and while the plot isn't the most interesting thing in the world, the main characters are *fantastic.*

Best two RPGs of all time are Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III (usa) for SNES, in my opinion anyway... but those are more traditional than simple.

For portable? Golden Sun for GBA then I guess.
 
Spend your time writing NOA to get them to port Mother 1+2 for the GBA like any good person should.

After you write 25 letters, feel free to buy some new stamps with different designs of your choice. After 50, buy your own personalized stationary. When you reach 100, just go to your local copystore and buy envelopes/pens in bulk.

After a while you will gain experience points in penmanship/cursive, sentance/grammar, fanboyism, and nostalgia.

For fun, you can argue with the clerks at the copy store that they used the wrong font on your stationary; or argue with your mail carrier about the rising costs of postage. It's best to wait till your frustration/disappointment stats are maxed out to assure you are able to lower their defenses before you start in on your attacks.
 
Final Fantasy: Dawn of Souls for GBA is $9.98 at TRU right now. It contains FF1 and FF2 and would make a great entry point into RPG's and give you a chance to play 2 classic games. FF1 is pretty easy and you can save anywhere so it's a great game for on the go.
 
What about FF1+2 on the GBA? FF1 is extremely easy and could break him in. 2 could show him how different they can play and it's two games on 1 cart.
 
Final Fantasy VII or IX would be my choice, both are very good and the gameplay is not too complex. Pick the one that appeals the most to you (edit: I see the 'sword and sorcery stuff' in your post, so I think IX would be best, although it's a bit harder than VII).

The Mario RPG's may be even better for an RPG noob, but they're simplistic compared to other RPG's and not really representative for what people usually like about them I think.
 
neptunes said:
Don't play ToS.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Overrated crap, with the same poorly implemented themes of racism as the rest of the series. Fighting is only worthwhile thing, and even that is easy and too simplistic.

I reccomend, for you, the NEW Bard's Tale jinx. Pretty funny stuff! I also reccomend for you Dark Cloud 2, which can be SUPER long if you try to do all the sidequests and shit, but if you just go for the story it might be just short enough and you might like it. Dungeon romping stuff, leveling up your weapons mostly but it's ALL about item collection and killing shit. Seriously, there are so many items.
 
koam said:
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest
Click to expand...


He speaks the truth. Mystic Quest = TWO man party, one of the easiest games ever made. If you lose in battle, GUESS WHAT! YOU CAN TRY THE BATTLE OVER INSTANTLY AGAIN WITHOUT ANY LOSSES! ;)
 
there is plenty of great rpgs to play.

I have found, at least amongst my friends though, that chrono trigger is the ebst rpg for someone who either hates the genre or has a history of avoiding them. People that hate final fantasy and its like can still get into chrono trigger.

generally exciting and twisting story with interesting characters with none of FF's teenage angst crap.

no random battles. You see the enemies beforehand and can choose whether or not to avoid them.

no extensive leveling required. Just fight monsters most of the monsters as you go through a dungeon and you'll be set.
 
Link1110 said:
What's different from ths US version?
Click to expand...


It was a joke. Nippon Ichi games are daunting enough without a language barrier.


For a serious suggestion, try one of the following

-Dark Cloud 2
-Fable (PC)
-Dragon Quest 8


EDIT: Didn't read your platforms. Updated.

Seriously, these games are very easy to get into.
 
Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land kinda fits your bill Jinx, except for the whole "80 hours" bit, because I can't imagine this game not taking a fuck ass long time. (I just started it.)
That said, DQVIII or FFIVa are great choices.
 
You can't avoid everything in Chrono Trigger. 'No random battles' is a little misleading. More like 'can see and try to avoid some battles, but others are forced'.
 
You can avoid a lot of them. And whats more, once you kill an enemy its gone until you leave the area. So the battles, while some are forced, are not 'random.'

its sorta how like I would say Lufia 2 is not a random battle RPG. Because in the dungeons (where it matters) you can anticipate the battles and actively attempt to avoid them even though some are completely unavoidable because the monsters are too fast.
 
Himuro said:
Final Fantasy VIII for an rpg nub.

If not that, Final Fantasy X.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, with the (rather confusing) junctioning system and the draw system, I think this wouldn't really be a good idea as a noob RPG... better to go with something more traditional and vanilla.
 
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